Kolkata Knight Riders enter IPL 2026 under the captaincy of Ajinkya Rahane, the three-time IPL champions looking to recapture the title they won in 2024. KKR open their campaign on March 29 against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium before returning to their iconic home ground at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Here is the complete match-by-match schedule for Kolkata Knight Riders across the full IPL 2026 league stage.
KKR IPL 2026 — Key Details
Captain: Ajinkya Rahane. Home venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Total league stage matches: 14. Live streaming: JioHotstar. TV broadcast: Star Sports.
KKR Complete IPL 2026 Match Schedule
Match 1: March 29, Sunday, 7:30 PM — Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai. Away match. KKR’s season opener at Wankhede.
Match 2: April 2, Thursday, 7:30 PM — Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata. Home match. KKR’s first home game of the season at Eden Gardens.
Match 3: April 6, Monday, 7:30 PM — Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings, Kolkata. Home match.
Match 4: April 9, Thursday, 7:30 PM — Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants, Kolkata. Home match.
Match 5: April 14, Tuesday, 7:30 PM — Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai. Away match. Two of IPL’s most successful franchises at Chepauk.
Match 6: April 17, Friday, 7:30 PM — Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Ahmedabad. Away match.
Match 7: April 19, Sunday, 3:30 PM — Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata. Home match. Afternoon fixture.
Match 8: April 22, Tuesday, 7:30 PM — Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai. Away match.
Match 9: April 28, Monday, 7:30 PM — Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi. Away match.
Match 10: May 3, Sunday, 3:30 PM — Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Hyderabad. Away match. Afternoon fixture.
Match 11: May 8, Friday, 7:30 PM — Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi. Away match.
Match 12: May 13, Wednesday, 7:30 PM — Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Raipur. Away match.
Match 13: May 20, Wednesday, 7:30 PM — Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians, Kolkata. Home match.
Match 14: May 24, Sunday, 7:30 PM — Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals, Kolkata. Home match. Final league stage fixture at Eden Gardens.
KKR Home Matches at a Glance
Kolkata Knight Riders play six home matches at Eden Gardens across the league stage. Home fixtures fall on April 2, April 6, April 9, April 19, May 20, and May 24. Eden Gardens is one of the most storied and atmospheric cricket venues in the world, with a capacity of approximately 68,000 making it the largest cricket stadium in India after the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. KKR’s passionate fanbase, which fills Eden Gardens to capacity for every home match, creates an environment that has historically been one of the most intimidating in the IPL for visiting teams.
The May 24 final league stage fixture against Delhi Capitals at Eden Gardens could be a match of enormous significance if the playoff race is still being decided on the last day of the league stage, making it one of the most potentially high-stakes home fixtures in KKR’s schedule.
KKR Away Fixtures Summary
Kolkata Knight Riders play eight away matches across seven different cities. Mumbai hosts MI vs KKR on March 29, KKR’s season opener. Chennai hosts CSK vs KKR on April 14 and April 22, giving KKR two visits to Chepauk where the hostile atmosphere makes winning particularly challenging. Ahmedabad hosts GT vs KKR on April 17. Delhi hosts DC vs KKR on April 28 and May 8, two away fixtures at Arun Jaitley Stadium. Hyderabad hosts SRH vs KKR on May 3. Raipur hosts RCB vs KKR on May 13, KKR’s only visit to RCB’s secondary home venue.
The Eden Gardens Advantage
Eden Gardens has historically been KKR’s greatest competitive asset. The atmosphere generated by Kolkata’s cricket-obsessed fanbase, the pitch conditions that have traditionally suited KKR’s spin-heavy bowling attacks, and the psychological advantage of playing in front of one of the world’s great cricket crowds have all contributed to KKR’s strong home record across their IPL history. With six home fixtures at Eden Gardens in IPL 2026, KKR’s playoff push will be significantly aided if they can convert home advantage into wins consistently through the league stage.
What to Watch For in KKR’s Campaign
Kolkata Knight Riders won their third IPL title in 2024 under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy before Iyer departed to Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2026. Ajinkya Rahane takes over the captaincy with the challenge of maintaining KKR’s winning culture through a leadership transition. The squad’s bowling attack, which has been a defining strength in recent KKR campaigns, will be watched closely to see whether it can perform at the same level under the new leadership setup. KKR’s ability to win away from Eden Gardens, where they play eight of their fourteen league fixtures, will be a significant determinant of their playoff qualification prospects.